An exceptional pink diamond weighing 8.41 carats will take the spotlight at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Autumn Auction on November 24, where rare colored gemstones and iconic jewelry designs will mark the 40th anniversary of Christie’s Asia.
Known as “The Pink Petal,” the pear-shaped diamond is graded Fancy Vivid purple-pink, the highest level of color intensity in the Gemological Institute of America’s grading system for colored diamonds. It also boasts VS1 clarity, indicating very slight inclusions, and is described as potentially Type IIa, a chemically pure category prized among diamond collectors.
The gem carries a pre-sale estimate of HK$65 million to HK$95 million, or approximately US$8.3 million to US$12 million.
Its potential price reflects the extraordinary scarcity of vivid pink diamonds, particularly in substantial sizes. Christie’s notes that fewer than 10% of pink diamonds weigh more than one-fifth of a carat, while only about 4% possess the deep, saturated color needed to qualify as Fancy Vivid. Type IIa diamonds account for less than 2% of gem-quality diamonds.
Pink diamonds are especially fascinating because their color arises differently from that of many other colored diamonds. Yellow diamonds, for example, typically owe their hue to nitrogen impurities. Pink diamonds develop their color through distortions in the diamond’s crystal lattice caused by intense geological pressure as they form deep within the Earth. The resulting changes in how the stone absorbs light create its pink appearance.
Their scarcity has become even more pronounced since the closure of Australia’s Argyle mine in 2020, which had supplied the vast majority of the world’s pink diamonds.
Three other exceptional jewels will help anchor the November sale.
An Art Deco Cartier brooch features a 10.10-carat Burmese ruby graded “pigeon’s blood,” a coveted designation for a ruby’s intense, pure red color. The ruby is unheated, meaning it has not undergone heat treatment to alter its appearance. Estimated at HK$40 million to HK$60 million (approximately US$5.2 million to US$7.7 million), the brooch combines a celebrated design period with a highly desirable gemstone.
Another stunner is a 21.05-carat Kashmir sapphire-and-diamond ring mounted by Cartier. The unheated sapphire’s rich, velvety “royal blue” color and impressive size make it a standout among the auction’s colored gemstones. Its estimate is HK$30 million to HK$50 million (approximately US$3.9 million to US$6.4 million).
Completing the trio is a dramatic 100.16-carat Burmese sapphire-and-diamond pendant showcasing an unheated sapphire also described as “royal blue.” Its estimate is HK$20 million to HK$30 million, or roughly US$2.3 million to US$3.6 million.
The four jewels are among more than 120 lots in a sale spanning natural pearls, jadeite, emeralds and signed creations by leading jewelry houses. Before returning to Hong Kong, selected highlights will travel to Bangkok, October 29–30; Geneva, November 6–10; and Shanghai, November 9–13. The Hong Kong preview is scheduled for November 18–24 at Christie’s Asia Pacific headquarters, ahead of the November 24 auction.
Credits: Images courtesy of Christie's.